How You Can Collect Evidence in Your Car Accident Claim
Following an accident, there are some things that come to mind before you even think about speaking with an attorney. Though it is important to retain your rights in the event of an accident, you should always ensure a variety of other things first
First Steps Following an Accident
Remaining Safe: If your accident was minor and you can safely get the vehicles off of the roadways, this is one of the first things that you should do. Use cones or flares in the area if you have them so that you can signal to others that there was an accident.
Getting Help: Call an ambulance if you or any other parties were injured in the accident, even if you think that it was minor. You should always call the police to the scene of your accident because a police report can be extremely important in your claims process and help you show who is at fault for injuries.
Collecting Evidence
After these steps are complete, you will usually start building your claim if you have been injured in an accident. With the help of your attorney, you will be building your claim from the ground up, which is why it is important to gather as much evidence as you possibly can. The more documentation you have, the easier it is to show that another party acted in a negligent way and that you should receive damages.
The plaintiff bears the burden of proof in an injury case, which means that you are left to establish that the other driver is at fault. This means that you will be telling your version of events leading up to the accident as well as proof of your injuries and lost wages. Evidence can come in the form of medical bills, records, photographs, witness statements, and more.
If you are able to, after you have called police to the scene of your accident so that they can move forward with a police report, you should always collect the driver’s license plate number, vehicle plate numbers, and insurance information from all drivers involved. If there were witnesses at the scene of the accident who might have seen the accident happen in full, you should always retain their names and contact information as well, as it might work in your favor when you move forward with a claim in the future.
If you have received medical care that points to your injuries and shows exactly how long you could suffer from these injuries, you have a right to document these aspects as well because it will help you compensate for your losses. You should always receive copies of all your medical records, including diagnostic scans and wages that you have missed out on while you were receiving this care and missing hours at work. All of these aspects are especially important when you are working toward the compensation you deserve.
Receiving Help with Your Claim
If you have been injured in an accident, evidence will be on your side when it comes to compensating for your losses. You might have received a variety of injuries, missed out on time at work, and many other aspects that have had a huge impact on your life. Because of this, you need a team of experienced attorneys who will stand by your side to protect your rights during this time. At the Los Angeles Injury Group, we want you to know that you are not alone and you have many protections. Call us for more information at 310-954-7248 to find out what we can do for you.